Representation and Conversions

system
Why do we need coordinate
systems?

Rectangular
Co-ordinate Systems

Cartesian coordinates in 3D
Range of the variables

-<x<
-<y<
-<z<

A = (Ax ,Ay ,A z)
or

Ax a x +Ay a y +A z a z

The coordinate surfaces of the

Cartesian coordinates (x, y, z). The
z-axis is vertical and the x-axis is
highlighted in green. Thus, the red
plane shows the points with x=1,
the blue plane shows the points
with z=1, and the yellow plane
shows the points with y=-1. The
three surfaces intersect at the point
P (shown as a black sphere) with
the Cartesian coordinates (1, -1, 1).

Cylindrical
Co-ordinate Systems

polar representations in the plane

Cylindrical coordinates just adds a z-coordinate to the polar coordinates ( , ).

(,,z)
Range of variables

0<
0< <2
-<z<

A=A a +A a + A z a
|A|=(A 2+A2+Az2)1/2

Cylindrical to rectangular
(, ,z)

x= cos
y = sin
z= z
Rectangular to Cylindrical

=(x2+y2 )1/2
tan =y/x
z=z

Differential elements in cylindrical

coordinates
Differential displacement

dl= da+ da+dzaz

Differential normal surfaces

ds= ddza
ddza
ddaz

Differential volume
The coordinate surfaces of the cylindrical coordinates (, , z). The red
cylinder shows the points with =2, the blue plane shows
the points with
dv=dddz
z=1, and the yellow half-plane shows the points with =60. The z-axis is
vertical and the x-axis is highlighted in green. The three surfaces
intersect at the point P with those coordinates (shown as a black sphere);
the Cartesian coordinates of P are roughly (1.0, 1.732, 1.0).

Spherical
Co-ordinate Systems

(x,y,z)

We start with a point (x,y,z)

given in rectangular
coordinates.
Then, measuring its distance r
from the origin, we locate it on a
sphere of radius r centered at
the origin.
Next, we have to find a way to
describe its location on the
sphere.

We use a method similar to the

method used to measure latitude and
longitude on the surface of the
Earth.
We find the great circle that goes
through the north pole, the south
pole, and the point.

We measure the latitude or polar

angle starting at the north
pole in the plane given by the
great circle.
This angle is called . The range
of this angle is

0< <

all angles are measured in

radians, as always.

Next, we draw a
horizontal
circle on the
sphere that
passes through
the point.
And drop it down onto
the xy-plane.

We measure the latitude or

azimuthal angle on the
latitude circle, starting at the
positive x-axis and rotating
toward the positive y-axis.
The range of the angle is

0< <2

Angle is called .
Note that this is the same angle as the in cylindrical coordinates!

(r , , )

Our designated point on

the sphere is indicated by
the three spherical
coordinates (r , , ) --(radial distance, azimuthal
angle, polar angle).

Spherical to rectangular
z

r = (x2+y2+z2)1/2
2
2 1/2
tan
= (x +y ) /z
tan = y/x
Rectangular to spherical
x=r sin cos
sin sin
Z= r cos
Y=r

Differential elements in spherical coordinate

system
Differential displacement

dl = drar + r d a +rsin d a
Differential normal surfaces

ds = r2 sin d d ar
r sin dr d a
r dr d a
Differential volume
dv =r2 sin drd d
r=constant is a sphere with its center at the origin.
=constant is a circular cone with the z-axis as the axis.
=constant is the semi-infinite plane.
A line is formed by the intersection of any two surfaces.

Transformation of Unit Vectors

Spherical to
cartesian
Cylindrical to
cartesian
Cartesian to
spherical

ax=sincosar+coscosa-sina
ay=sinsinar+cossina+cosa
az=cosa
ax=cosar-sina
-sina
ay=sina+cosa
az=az

ar=sincosa x+sinsina y+cosa z

a=coscosa x+cossina y-sina z

Cartesian to
cylindrical

a=cosax+sinay
a=-sina
x+cosa y
a=-sina
x+cosay
az=az

The del operator in this system is written as

THE DEL OPERATOR

In
cartesian
coordinates
In
In spherical
cyindricalcoordinates
coordinates
=/x ax+/ya y+/za z

Putting =(x2+y2)1/2 , tan=y/x

We have,
/x=cos/+-sin//
/y=sin/++cos//
Putting r=(x2+y2+z2)1/2 , tan=(x2+y2)1/2, tan=y/x
We have, /+az/z
=a/+1/a
/x=sincos/r+coscos/r/-sin//
/y=sinsin/r+cossin/r/+cos//
/z=cos/r-sin/r/

=ar/r+1/ra/+1/rsin/a

The gradient of a scalar field V is a vector that represents both the

magnitude and the direction of the maximum space rate of increase of V.